Bonners celebrates official launch of new flagship store in Eastbourne

The official opening of Eastbourne’s biggest music store was celebrated in rock n’ roll style with more than 70 guests. 

Bonners hosted a VIP launch party at its new flagship premises at 9 Faraday Close on Thursday, September 30, with music, food and tours of the store. 

Guests included Caroline Ansell, MP for Eastbourne and Willingdon; Councillor David Tutt, the Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council; the Mayor and Mayoress of Eastbourne; local business leaders, music teachers and local bands. 

Tony White, co-owner of Bonners, said: “It was a great turnout and people enjoyed having a look around our new guitar, piano and keyboard store. 

“These premises allow us more space to display the fantastic instruments on sale and allow customers to try before they buy, which is really important. 

“Our new facilities have been well received. They include a guitar and amp testing booth, video suite, an extended guitar workshop and wider ranges across the major brands.” 

Bonners has a huge range of guitars from brands including Gibson, Fender, Epiphone, Ibanez, Martin, PRS, Gretsch and more. It also boasts a room full of Martin acoustic guitars. 

The Eastbourne store has the largest selection of acoustic pianos, digital pianos and keyboards south of London with brands including Yamaha, Kawai, Feurich, Roland, Hammond Nord, Casio and Korg. 

The store’s on-site guitar workshop and repair centre can handle anything from a basic re-string to more in-depth electronic repairs and pick-up replacement. 

Now in its 45th year of trading, Bonners was opened in a small shop in Ivy Terrace in Eastbourne town centre by musician Peter Bonner, who was a resident act at the Kings Country Club working alongside global artists such as Neil Diamond, Dusty Springfield and Tom Jones. 

The popularity of Bonners meant more space was soon needed and it moved to a larger space next door, followed by a second shop in Grove Road in the 1980s. 

Over the years, Bonners has gone from strength to strength with a further move to Langney Road in 2005 to accommodate the ever-expanding business. 

Tony had a stint of work-experience at Bonners aged 14 and ‘absolutely loved it’. This was quickly followed by a Saturday job, when he would often be tasked with promoting pianos in the Arndale Centre, then a full-time position throughout the 1990s. In 2000, he took over the company with his business partner Myke Edwards who had joined Bonners in 1990. 

They have since opened two new Bonners stores in Reigate, Surrey, and in Milton Keynes. 

The new out-of-town location for  the Eastbourne store is a perfect fit  for Bonners. 

Tony said: “At 11,000 sq ft across two-storeys, this store is more open and has a more relaxed atmosphere than our previous town centre site.  

“Crucially, here we have 20 parking spaces and excellent road access, so getting to us by car is easy or for anyone travelling by train, Hampden Park railway station is just a short walk away. 

“Both the guitar store and piano and keyboard centre are staffed by an experienced and helpful team, so existing and new customers can use our specialist knowledge to make an informed decision for their purchase.” 

Additionally, Tony has his own YouTube channel where he demonstrates new piano and keyboard instruments on offer, which has attracted a following of more than 30,000 subscribers. 

Bonners, which employs 20 full-time staff across its three stores, saw piano and guitar sales soar during lockdown with parents buying them for at-home children and people taking up the instrument as a new pastime and for mental health benefits.  

Christina Ewbank, Chief Executive of Eastbourne & District Chamber of Commerce, said: “Bonners is one of Eastbourne’s great success stories and I am delighted this well-established business has continued to thrive and adapt despite the difficulties posed by Covid-19. 

“I wish the Bonners team well in their new Eastbourne home.”

Visit online at bonnersmusic.co.uk